USA (Commonwealth Union)_ Shailesh Jejurikar, a veteran executive originally from India, is set to become the next Chief Executive Officer of Procter & Gamble (P&G), one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies. The transition will take place on January 1, 2026, as the current CEO, Jon Moeller, steps down. Jejurikar, who is 58, currently serves as P&G’s Chief Operating Officer. With this appointment, Jejurikar will join a growing group of Indian-origin leaders heading major global firms. This includes high-profile names like Sundar Pichai at Google, Satya Nadella at Microsoft, Arvind Krishna at IBM, and Shantanu Narayen at Adobe. P&G confirmed the move in a statement, adding that its board has also nominated Jejurikar for election to the board of directors at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in October 2025.
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The leadership change comes at a complex time for the company. Like many global corporations, P&G is facing rising economic uncertainty and international trade tensions. The company recently revised its full-year sales and earnings forecast, citing weakening consumer demand and the effects of tariffs related to the ongoing US–China trade dispute. Despite these challenges, P&G leadership is confident that Jejurikar is well-prepared for the role. Joe Jimenez, the company’s Lead Director, called him “an outstanding leader” and credited him with driving growth across several business units, especially in the Fabric Care and Home Care categories. He added that Jejurikar has made valuable contributions in both developed and emerging markets.
Jejurikar’s educational background
Born and raised near Mumbai, India, Shailesh Jejurikar has a long history of leadership and academic excellence. He attended Hyderabad Public School, where he was head boy and a skilled cricket player. Interestingly, his classmate at the time was Satya Nadella, now CEO of Microsoft. The two remain close friends. Jejurikar completed his undergraduate studies in Mumbai before earning his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow, one of India’s most prestigious business schools. His family also includes other accomplished professionals. His older brother, Rajesh Jejurikar, is a senior executive at the Mahindra Group, where he serves as executive director and CEO of the company’s automotive and farming equipment division.
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Successful career at P&G
Jejurikar’s journey at P&G began in 1989 when he joined as an assistant brand manager in India. Over the years, he worked in various roles across regions, including Africa, Asia, and North America. His experience spans brand management, marketing, and executive leadership. By 2005, he had moved into a general manager role. Three years later, he was named vice president. In 2010, he was put in charge of Home Care in North America. Four years after that, he became president of Fabric Care in the same region, eventually taking on global responsibilities. Jejurikar was named CEO of P&G’s Global Fabric & Home Care division in 2019, which is the company’s biggest and most lucrative business division. He has been the company’s Chief Operating Officer since 2021. When he assumes his new position, Jejurikar will become only the second non-American-born CEO in P&G’s nearly 190-year history. The first was Durk Jager from the Netherlands, who briefly served as CEO in 1998.
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Notable positions and contributions
Outside of his main responsibilities at P&G, Jejurikar is also active in civic and corporate leadership. He is the chairman of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. and a board member of Otis Elevator Co., where he leads the Compensation Committee. In addition, he serves on the board of The Christ Hospital. He formerly worked at the American Cleaning Institute and served as a trustee at Cincinnati Country Day School. Throughout his career, Jejurikar has made important contributions to P&G’s operations and strategy, playing critical positions in supply chain efficiency, IT modernization, and global business services. He now resides in Cincinnati with his wife and two boys.
